Dispenser and lighter for cigarettes and cigars



Aug. 26, 1930.@ F, COPELAND 1,774,131

DISPENSER AND LIGHTER FOR ClGRTTES AND CIGARS m: ri

IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 26, 1930; F. c. coPELANb 1,774,131

DISPENSER AND LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND CIGARS 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1927 INVENTOR. 179M- device capable of ing being broken Iaway section,

50 over the bead Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES FRANCIS COIELAND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DISP-ENSER AND LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND CIGARS Application led November *23, 1927. Serial No. 235,168.

This inventionrelates to dispensing and lighting mechanism for cigarettes and for cigars.

The object of the invention is to provide a dispensing and igniting which device is inform suitable for use on a desk or table and is capable, upon actuation of a single lever or key, of discharging a single cigarette or cigarettes orY cigars,

1 cigar and thereafter automatically igniting the same.A

In the accompanying drawin s,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation o a preferred form of the device, certain parts of the housto illustrate the mechanism; f

Fig. 2 shows a vertical central sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of a modied 20 form of the device, certain parts of the housing being broken awayto illustrate the mechanism enclosed thereby;

Fig. 4 shows a front elevation partly in of the device illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,' it will be seen to comprise a base 10, upon which isa housing 11 having a receptacle 12 in its upper portion to contain a quantity of cigarettes or cigars. The receptacle is preferably provided with a hinged lcover 14 at its top. The floor of the vreceptacle is formed by a forwardly and downwardly inclined' or curved plate 15 having a bead or obstruction 16 at its forward end, against which a cigar or cigarette will rest at all times when the receptacle is filled.

In spaced relation with the -loor is a feeder plate 17, pivotally mounted at 18.

There is a rod or pin 19 on the lower end of this plate, extending through an arcuate slot 20 in one side of the housing and connected to a link 21. This link is connected at its other end to a pin 22, which passes through an arcuate slot 23 and supports a kicker plate 24, disposed belowl the floor of the receptacle. This kicker plate when actuated is. adapted to project through a slot 25 in the floor plate and kick the lowermost cigarette the receptacle,

or obstruction 16. The link 21 be held against rolling off by the bead 16. -1

is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a link 26, which in turn is pivoted to "a lever 27 fulcrumed at 27a on the wall of the A housing. The lever is actuated bya key 28 which projects through the top of the housing and is adapted to be depressed by the thumb or finger of the operator. The key is normally held in raised position by a spring 29 connected to the side of the housing.

An arm 3() pivoted at 31 on the housing' 60 `spring may be provided to raise the arm 30 when the pressure of the strap 34 is removed7 m and. thereby bring the contact points together. These contacts are electrically connected v to a suitable i gniting element 35, arranged in the base 10 at one side thereof.

Disposed on the incline and in line with the igniting element are two hook-shaped brackets 36, secured to and extending down from the front edge of the floor plate 15. Thus, when a cigarette is kicked over the bead 16, it falls onto the brackets and is guided on an incline down into contact with the igniting element. In this position ofthe cigarette, one end resting against the igniting element, the cigarette will be ignited without suction being applied thereto. The housing has a front wall 37 which terminates a short distance below the floor plate 15, which serves to prevent a vcigarette being thrown too far forward when the kicker plate strikes the same. There is an inclined plate or defiector38 above thc g igniting element, which serves to ignite one end of the cigarette during its fall onto the brackets, which prevents the cigarette from coming into contact with the igniting element except by an endwise, sliding motion, after it 9 is received by the brackets.

In the operaton of the device shown inl Figs. 1 and 2 with a-quantity of cigarettes in` the lowermost cigarette will The other cigarettes will be held back by coming in contact with the lowermost cigaratte ate 17. When the key is depressed, the kibker plate is raised to kick the lowermost cigarette off the bead 16, and simultaneously thefeeder plate is swung inwardlv, carrying with it the entire batch of cigarettes. `When the key is released, the kicker plate is retracted and the feeder plate returns to its forward position. In this latter position there is suiicient clearance between the lower edge of the feeder plate and the ioor plate to permit a cigarette to pass, and one is thereupon advanced to the point where it is stopped by the bead 16. The cigarette adjacent the lowermost one, owing to the curvature or incline of the floor plate, is j in a .raised position where it will be in the Apath of the feeder plate as the latter swings inwardly on the next actuation; but said feeder plate will at all times clear the lowermost cigarette. This feeder plate serves to insure delivery of a single cigarette in each actuation, and prevents clogging of the ejector mechanism, and by its movement carries with it the entire batch of cigarettes and has the effect of lining them up properly in case they should be thrown into the receptacle in a haphazard arrangement.

When the key is de ressed the electric contacts are automatica ly closed and the key should be held depressed suiiiciently long to enable the igniting element to light the cigarette which has been ejected.

The device shown in Figs. Sand 4, so far as the feeding or ejector mechanism is concerned, is identical with the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In place of the depressable key 28, I show a lever 39 pivotally mounted near the bottomf the housing at one side'thereof. This lever is connected'at its inner end to a link'40, and the link at its up er end is connected to the in 19 on the fee er plate. The said feeder plate and kicker plates are connected together for joint operation by the link 21, as in Fig. 1. A spring 41 connected between the link 40 and lever 39 serves to maintain-the forward end ofthe lever in A cigarette dispenser comprising a recep'- tacle for a quantity of cigarettes, having-an v` inclined curved floor, said receptacle being formed with a discharge opening immediately adjacent the lower edge of the Hoor through vwhich a single cigarette may pass, a movable ejector adapted to dislodge. the lowermost 

